Nasal Congestion

We’ve all experienced it—that stuffy nose that can keep you up at night or give you chapped lips from constantly breathing through your mouth. Nasal congestion occurs when the nasal passages and surrounding tissues become swollen with excess fluid, usually with a mucus buildup. This results in sneezing, itchy eyes, sinus pressure and difficulty breathing. It can lead to loud snoring, and in some cases it can result in a runny nose. Nose doctor Shervin Aminpour offers several treatment methods to help you find permanent relief, and is constantly striving to provide among the best chronic nasal congestion treatment in Los Angeles.

Nasal Congestion Causes

Nasal congestion is interesting because it is usually considered a symptom, not a condition by itself. That being said, its “causes” are typically another condition entirely. For this reason, it is important to understand the underlying condition so the whole condition can be treated, not just the symptoms. Most medications you would find at a pharmacy don’t actually handle the condition, they just alleviate the symptoms. An experienced nose doctor or Los Angeles allergist can help you identify these causes some of which are outlined here.

Allergies

Allergies can come from both indoor and outdoor sources. Indoor allergies may be caused by animal fur, dust mites, mold and insect droppings. Outdoor allergies can come from pollen, grass and trees, among other sources. Some food allergies can cause nasal congestion.

People with hay fever can experience a syndrome called pollen-food allergy. This is a condition where an allergy to certain types of pollen can trigger an allergic reaction when eating specific fruits, vegetables, nuts or using certain spices. You may react to melons if you are allergic to ragweed pollen. There are charts that show the correlation between specific types of pollen to specific fruits and vegetables.

The reaction can cause nasal congestion, swelling of the throat and in severe cases can trigger anaphylaxis. Usually the reaction does not occur in cooked foods.

Infections

There are many ways you can get a cold or the flu. Being around other people when shopping in crowded department stores, or around co-workers or other students can lead to some kind of infection. Fortunately, these conditions usually go away quickly with basic home remedies. In other cases, they may persist, causing a number of symptoms including nasal congestion.

Bacterial and fungal infections can be the cause of nasal congestion. In cases of acute sinusitis infections the sinus cavities become inflamed and swollen causing very uncomfortable congestion. If the congestion hasn’t resolved within a few weeks, or if it is recurring regularly, Dr. Aminpour should be consulted as soon as possible. Sinusitis should not be left untreated as it can become a chronic condition.

Irritants

Non-allergic irritants may be the cause of nasal congestion. While these produce similar symptoms to allergies, they are much more temporary, usually going away after a couple hours. Such irritants include perfumes, tobacco smoke, and spicy foods.

One common cause of nasal congestion is the overuse of nasal decongestants. Most over the counter decongestant sprays and drops advise that they be used once every 12 hours. It is tempting to medicate more frequently after the initial dose produces relief. However, overuse causes a rebound reaction which can make nasal congestion worse than it was originally.

Working with caustic chemicals can irritate the nasal passages. For this and other health related reasons, use protective equipment when using them. Once the environmental irritant is gone, the symptoms should rapidly go away.

Other Causes

Generally, if nasal congestion lasts longer than a week, it’s best to seek assistance from an ENT doctor, such as Los Angeles nose doctor Shervin Aminpour. There are many serious conditions that can cause nasal condition.

There can be a foreign object in the nose such as a benign tumor or a nasal polyp. Nasal polyps are painless noncancerous growths occurring in the sinuses or on the lining of the nose. These are caused by recurring infections, asthma, allergies or drug sensitivity. They can be treated with medication but may require surgery. Small polyps usually don’t cause symptoms however larger polyps can lead to a lost sense of smell and breathing problems.

Patients with a deviated septum can also experience nasal congestion. The septum is the dividing wall between the nostrils that is composed of cartilage and bone. The septum can be moved out of place by injury or other trauma causing airflow to be diminished as well as congestion.

A surgical procedure called septoplasty is usually the remedy for this condition and once it is corrected, the problem of nasal congestion will usually resolve completely unless there are other conditions. During septoplasty swollen turbinates can also be corrected if this is contributing to congestion.

Turbinates are the thin bony shelves within the nasal passages that warm, humidify and clean the air we breathe. These shelves are covered by spongy mucus membranes which can become enlarged and impede airflow.

Common Remedies for Simple Nasal Congestion

Fortunately there are many home remedies that can help alleviate simple nasal congestion. These include: flushing with saline spray (salt water – a non-medical remedy), using humidifiers, drinking lots of water, putting a warm and wet towel on your face and keeping yourself propped up.

Particularly for long-term congestion, it is smart to seek the help of a nose doctor. Dr. Shervin Aminpour, an experienced ENT doctor, will provide you with among the most effective chronic nasal congestion treatment Los Angeles has available.

Nasal congestion treatment

Because nasal congestion is caused by a number of conditions, there are several treatment options
available. After a diagnosis of your exact condition in our facility, nose doctor Shervin
Aminpour will recommend which Los Angeles chronic nasal congestion treatment method will produce the best outcome.

*The content/images on this website are not a guarantee of individual results. Individual results may vary. The information provided on this site is for general informational purposes only, and does not replace the need for a formal consultation.